Wear them for their significance or love them for their fashion element, birthstones are becoming increasingly popular amongst people today. Birthstones are gemstones associated with each month of the calendar year. They are believed to have a unique meaning and significance that provide healing benefits to wearers, possibly improving their overall wellness.
The origins of birthstones go back centuries where kings, clergies, and others adorned these as part of their jewellery or ornament to bring in healing powers and fortunes. Today, they are worn as individual gemstones or a mix of them placed in necklaces, chains, brooches, rings, pendants, etc.
Are Birthstones Important?
This is entirely up to the believer. Wearing stones without real intent cannot and will not affect the wearer. In order to evoke the unique properties that each gemstone has to offer, the wearer must wear it on his or her body at all times. This can be in the form of a pendant or jewellery.
Birthstones have been traditionally used for various purposes like warding off evil energies, nightmares, protecting loved ones from harm, helping with eyesight, love, wealth and the likes. In fact, the Christian clergy has worn gems like Sapphire to represent heaven. While in the Middle East, the very same gem was used to ward off evil. Travellers and explorers in the past carried Garnets with them on long journeys to ward off evil and bring in light at night. Birthstones each have individual benefits that could prove to assist in healing.
There is a popular belief that once a gemstone has done its job, it slowly and unknowingly disappears from the wearer’s body!
Breaking Down The Significance Of Each Stone To Birth Month
January
Birthstone: Garnet
Importance: Protection. They also signify loyalty and constancy.
February
Birthstone: Amethyst
Importance: Courage and strengthen relationships.
March
Birthstone: Aquamarine
Importance: Health and healing protection against diseases
Birthstone: Bloodstone
Importance: Creativity and enhanced clarity
April
Birthstone: Diamond
Importance: Courage and representation of eternal love
May
Birthstone: Emerald
Importance: Love, patience, wisdom and growth.
June
Birthstone: Pearls
Importance: Purity and natural beauty
Birthstone: Alexandrite
Importance: Concentration and learning
Birthstone: Moonstone
Importance: Calm and healing
July
Birthstone: Ruby
Importance: Signifies love and passion
August
Birthstone: Peridot
Importance: Quality of strength. It also offers wearers protection against bad dreams
Birthstone: Sardonyx
Importance: Eloquence and clear thinking
Birthstone: Spinel
Importance: Inspiration and revitalization
September
Birthstone: Sapphire
Importance: Purity and wisdom.
October
Birthstone: Opal
Importance: Confidence and Faithfulness
Birthstone: Tourmaline
Importance: Love, tenderness and passion
November
Birthstone: Topaz
Importance: Love and affection, while strengthening intellect.
Birthstone: Citrine
Importance: Wealth and good health
December
Birthstone: Turquoise
Importance: Success and good fortune
Birthstone: Tanzanite
Importance: Dignity, truth, and wisdom
Birthstone: Zircon
Importance: Wisdom, honour and prosperity
A Guide To Buying Gemstones
Now that we know the significance of each gemstone against birth months, it’s also important that when you invest in one, you buy one that’s genuine. Genuine birthstones give maximum benefit to the wearer and ensure that its unique healing energies flow with ease.
Here are some tips on buying genuine birthstones:
Do your research
Before you go ahead and purchase a birthstone, it’s important to do your research and homework ahead of time. It may be exciting to pop into a store and go by the store salesman’s recommendation of birthstone against your birth month. However, to get the maximum and rightful benefit of stone against birth month, it’s important to get your gemstone correct. So before you go in, have the type of birthstone you are looking for ready in mind.
Ask questions
Don’t shy away from asking questions about the gemstone seller and his collection of gemstones. This can include a source of gemstones, how reputable their business is, certificate of trust and purity, etc. Look to deal with an established gemstone seller who has a local customer base but has a larger international network. This way, you know you can reach out to them should you need assistance in cleaning or fixing the gem to a band, no matter where you are.
Guarantee
It’s important to get a guarantee for the gemstone you purchase. Jewellers often provide a certificate ensuring the gemstone is genuine through testing for purity. Some jewellers also have policies like returning the stone in a year if you are not satisfied.
Look closely
While gemstones are polished and shined to make it look pure and attractive, it’s important to take a close look at the gem. It’s the imperfections within, that tell you if the gemstone is unique and genuine, adding character to itself. Glass is what gives you a perfect cut look, not gems! This also acts as an identification point when and whether you have to give your gemstone away for repair.
Natural or treated stones?
It’s worth considering whether the gemstones are natural or treated. Upon looking closer, you will find that some gemstones have undergone heat, dye or perhaps were created in a formal environment like a lab! While putting these gemstones through treatments can bring about shine, it can actually devalue the stone itself.
Go fishing for price ranges
There’s no harm in carrying out a quick comparison or research of pricing for the birthstone in mind. It’s important to know if the seller you are buying from is genuine and is selling a gemstone that’s worth the money asked for. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It’s better to take time and research well than commit to buying something that you are unsure of.
Birthstones are known to offer healing benefits to those who wear them. Choose yours carefully to avail maximum benefit from the vibrancy of your individual birthstone. Since these are daily worn jewels, it’s important to fix them in solid, stable metals like gold or silver to ensure the gemstone doesn’t get misplaced when using them.